By Amaechi Agbo

Coach Randy Waldrum has included 40 years old Abia Angels defender, Onome Ebi in the final list of the Super Falcons squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand

The nineth edition of the quradraniel women’s football fiesta will hold from Thursday, July 20 to Sunday, August 20, 2023

In the final 23-woman squad released on Friday, Waldrum listed European Cup winner Asisat Oshoala, dainty attacking midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade and 40-year-old Onome Ebi in his list of 23 Super Falcons for tournament.

There is also first choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, as well as defenders Osinachi Ohale and Oluwatosin Demehin, midfielders Halimatu Ayinde and Christy Ucheibe, and forwards Esther Okoronkwo and Desire Oparanozie.

Ebi, who marked her 40th birthday on May 8 will be making her sixth World Cup appearance for the Super Falcons who reached the quarter-final in 1991 when the competition started with 12 teams, but have failed to go beyond the Round of 16 stage of the tournament thereafter

Nigeria will play Canada, co-host nation Australia and the Republic of Ireland in that order in the expanded FIFA Women’s World Cup finals with 32 teams set to debut at the championship – same number as for the men’s finals in Qatar last year.

Nine-time African champions Nigeria, who were within whistling distance of the semi-finals before losing to Brazil in extra time in the United States of America in 1999, will arrive in Australia on Tuesday, 4th July for a 15-day final camping programme before the finals begin on 20th July.

SUPER FALCONS FOR BIGGEST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP FINALS:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Hakkarigucu Spor FC, Turkey); Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France)

Defenders: Onome Ebi (Abia Angels); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France)

Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengard FC, Sweden); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA)

Forwards: Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, Kentucky, USA); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femenine, Spain); Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France)